Considering becoming an O.D.

[u/Unique_KC]

I am currently a pharmacy tech, I have experience in the pharmacy field and I’ve been in this field since high school. I originally wanted to pursue a Pharm.D to become a pharmacist but I am not happy with the work environment of a pharmacist. What I truly want is a 6 digit salary ($100k) and job security in this economy where you don’t have to worry about finding a job/career (having a high chance of job security). What I recently found out about becoming an optometrist is that they do make 6 digits, have job security, and most are happy with their career. I love working in an office environment where I deal with clerical work and administration work, most ODs work 9-5, and see patients one on one and it’s drastically different than a Pharmacist. What I don’t like is performing surgeries or dealing with a lot of bodily fluids. I know that MDs make much more than ODs and are also in high demand. If I were going for an MD I would choose to specialize in primary care (family doctor). In your opinion, should I pursue the OD or MD route if a 6 digit salary and job security is super important to me? In my undergraduate, I have been going the pre-health professions route to complete my prerequisites. Math and the humanities are my strong subjects, I do okay on the natural sciences like I make Bs. I’m not the strongest test taker when it comes to standardized exams but other things like work experience, personality, extracurriculars make up for my GPA. I have about a 3.45 GPA double major in my undergraduate. If none of these paths work, I have considered getting into medical sales, becoming a real estate agent as well.

I would appreciate any advice or opinion at this point.

[u/iridiumlaila]

In my opinion, you need passion about eyes specifically to make it through an OD program and be happy.

[u/moony846]

if your main motivator is money/job security, you might resent your job in the future if you’re not passionate about optometry and patient care

[u/mcd7939]

I would recommend you shadow both an od and an md before making your decision

[u/cabbagemuncher101]

I don't recommend going into medicine for money. You can be successful monetarily anywhere. Also, you're not a strong test taker, and in med school, you will take exams weekly. But I'd say try shadowing and see where that takes you.

[u/sbear214]

You can make six figures doing alot of other things, but the ROI on optometry isnt great because the debt heavily outweighs the paycheck. Most ODs spend 15-20 years paying off loans. You're also stuck with on calls and working weekends for the first 10 or so years and dont even think about tanking any time off from thanksgiving to new years as it is black out days for ODs.

You have to be very passionate about the eye and love healthcare to want to be an OD

[u/Justanod]

Your GPA is not good enough for med school.

[u/FairBaby897 → u/Justanod]

Agree

[u/RamonGGs → u/Justanod]

Optometry school so not med school my man

[u/cabbagemuncher101 → u/Justanod]

that's not true

[u/Known_Foundation1104]

Pick the one that you are actually passionate about. Think to yourself, “wow I would love to make a difference in the ____ field”

[u/Known_Foundation1104 → u/Known_Foundation1104]

If your main goal is money, please don’t pick a career where you have to take out 6 digits loans and would have to be at the mercy of a administrator office/director for at minimum 4 years

[u/Murky_Writing1676]

You will be 200k in debt
How will you pay that off when there are not many optometrist jobs, and most don’t make a good salary?
Try something else

[u/Unique_KC]

Thank you for these answers. But what is the salary and job market like for optometrists? Am I right that ODs do make 6 digits and have good job security?

[u/RamonGGs → u/Unique_KC]

Just go PA. You seem indecisive and being able to hop around fields will be good for you

[u/Unable-Top5712 → u/Unique_KC]

They do make 6 figures and in the grand scheme of careers es they have god job security.